New Branding, New Look and a New Website!

Super excited!

I have been absent, again! I'm sorry, but with good reason.

Wait for it.............

I have been working hard designing my new WEBSITE! 

Yes, my first website! And It is LIVE! Now! Da-Dah!

Please feel free to go have have a peek: www.dreamboxinteriordesign.co.uk and let me know your thoughts! The portfolio page is still in the design stages, but I have some exciting projects coming soon!

With my website launching it was a good time to take a look at all my other pages too so you may have noticed my new branding rolling out across my blog, facebook page and Twitter.

Facebook: Dream Box Interior Design

Twitter: DreamBoxID

Please come and visit me, don't be shy! I love chatting away with all my followers and offering help and advice where I can.

I promise not to wait so long until my next blog post! I have a couple of projects I want to share with you, I am currently renovating my own kitchen (another reason for being away) and want to share this too plus it's Christmas - I love Christmas! I need to start sharing Christmas inspiration.

Don't go to far! I'll be back before you know it!
x

Christmas Chutney Recipe

My last blog post contained mutterings of Christmas chutney! And I know some of you wanted the recipe! I promise this will not disappoint. I had such a lovely evening; music playing, jigging around the kitchen with my wooden spoon as no one was home, the room filling with an undoubtedly Christmas scent, how can you feel anything other than joy and happiness? And the feeling of being prepared rather than a last minute Christmas dash and 'I wish I had......' was fantastic!

Enjoy!

Ingredients;
Makes approx 2.2 litres.
750g cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped small
1 medium onion, peeled and roughly chopped
500g fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed if frozen
250g soft pitted dates, each cut into 3 pieces
Zest, pulp and juice of 3 clementines
400g caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
500mm white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
Jars

* Sterilise your jars
* Put the apples, onions, cranberries and dates into a large pan (if you keep to the above quantities, you really will need a large pan!)
* Zest the clementines over the top, then squeeze in the juice and scrape in the pulp
* Add the sugar, ground cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne pepper, then pour the vinegar over and sprinkle in the salt
* Now all you have to do is give it a good stir, turn on the heat, bring to a boil, once boiling turn down the heat and let it bubble cheerfully, uncovered, for about an hour or until you have a pulpy mass

To Finish;
* Take a deep breath of the beautiful, christmassy aroma!
* Spoon into your jars and seal.
This chutney would make a perfect gift and stocking filler for friends and family, just add ribbon and a gift tag (more ideas for gift wrap another time! Keep your eyes pealed).

Make Ahead Tip;
Make the chutney up to 2 months before using or giving as a gift (the longer it has to 'mature' the better). Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. Once opened, store in the fridge and use within one month.

Thank you Nigella!

No place like home......... In Autumn!

Evening, remember me? I can hardly believe the last time I posted was August and it was about my garden and summer and now - Autumn has arrived.

I LOVE this time of year. The colours are amazing, red, yellow and orange leaves surfing the wind, tumbling down to the ground creating a path into magical gardens and forests! Coming home into the warm, curling up with a good book, hot chocolate and marshmallows......... by the fire!

The fire and kitchen for me are the heart of the home, where everyone wants to be, even when you're cooking and there's not enough room! And having just renovated our own living room and uncovered an old, beautiful, original red brick fireplace I now have the luxury of being part of my cosy, autumn fantasy rather than just gazing at magazines and websites, wishing it were me cocooned in the blankets. (This also goes some way to explaining my absence on my sad, neglected blog recently, but more of that another time).

As I type I have a batch of Christmas chutney bubbling away, I cannot tell you how thankful I am that I brought an extra large, actually, HUGE pan last Christmas! If nothing helps get you in the mood for the cold weather this will. The house is filled with the festive aroma of clementines and cloves, thank you Nigella and I cannot wait until Christmas to try. My mind wonders to home cooked casseroles, rich with red wine and baking! Is it any wonder I gain weight every Autumn/Winter (I've made a pact, not this year! I'm feeding everyone else instead!).

Yes, it may be cold and wet outside but this time of year is beautiful for so many other reasons and I hope to have inspired you tonight............ But right now I have to go and check on my chutney.

Images: Pinterest

My Garden Shed - Transformation

Back in April I blogged about inspirational garden sheds and the plans I had in store for my very own garden, if you missed the blog you can catch up here!

Well, since then we have had one week filled with sunshine and Yes! I managed to spend the week in the garden transforming it into a space we can share with friends and family. A place we can relax and enjoy and a weight feels like it has been lifted off of my shoulders now I have completed the garden and no longer feel guilty looking at the jungle it was.

After mowing the grass, weeding, cleaning boarders, 6 trips to the rubbish tip with skip sized sacks and cutting trees, I finally got to start decorating my garden, painting the shed a shade of 'willow' making and hanging bunting and planting flowers, we even got to spend some time enjoying breakfast in the garden before the weather turned again!



There is still work I want to finish, such as making our small patio larger and extending it to the back of the shed and I need to fill the boarders with shrubs and plant more pots but I am amazed with how much we managed to do in one week, isn't it amazing what some hard work can achieve! Now, if only the sunshine would return so we can enjoy a few more evenings and weekends enjoying our hard work!

How to design a room with a TV

Incorporating a TV into an interior design scheme is not always easy and sometimes we all need a little inspiration. Is it me or has anyone else noticed that a large proportion of magazines and websites do not feature rooms with a TV making inspiration hard to come by. Admittedly, they are not always stylish and can shatter the illusion of a beautifully styled home and throw the balance of a room but I like nothing more than settling down with a good film at the end of a long day/week. So there must be a compromise?

For me it is not realistic to have a room without a TV, on one hand I think that a seperate TV room would be ideal but on the other I love the relaxed atmosphere of watching TV in the living room, I do not want our living/family room to be formal. I am sure plenty of you feel the same. We also do not all have the option to have a dedicated TV room so, with this in mind I wanted to share with you some inspiring images which incorporate a TV and remain stylish whether country, modern, classic, luxury or contemporary is your choice of style.

This is the route I am going to be taking in my own home to remain loyal to my original Victorian features, personally I do not feel it right to hang a TV on the wall here and would like something more sympathetic so will be taking a less bold approach with shelving above the TV so it almost disappears with the books and vignettes.

 For those of you who want to completely conceal the TV, here are some great options; TV hidden behind a mirror, a bespoke storage unit which can be pulled back to reveal/disguise the TV or my favourite, the mirror TV. When switched off, the TV appears as a wall mounted mirror - These can incorporate all the current technology including 3D and many companies offer a number of sizes to suit your requirements - I love these but your bank account may not feel the same!

Alternatively, a solution which works well in the more contemporary home, a Wall hung TV which has been sunk into the wall to create a super sleek and stylish finish.

I hope this has given you some inspiration on how to fit a TV into your home and work with your design rather than the TV stealing the show!

Images: Pinterest, Magic Mirror, House to Home

Interior Design; Current Projects

I have been extremely busy recently completing projects and starting new, including my own home so not much time left for blogging. But, today I thought I would share some of those projects with you.

Project 101; Bathroom
The start of my own home renovation. The bathroom was small with no storage so my client brief (yes, I completed a client brief) was a room with built in storage, relaxing and luxurious. I designed a built in unit behind the toilet as this was wasted space, this worked extremely well as it also concealed the toilet cistern. The room was completed with travertine tiles, under floor heating and a 2 way dimmer switch lighting system, which I love - complete control over the lighting and in turn the atmosphere of the room, there really is nothing nicer than relaxing in a bath at the end of a long day, glass of chilled white in hand!
The dark silk curtains and dark wood mirror add a hint of luxury and depth into the scheme, layering colour and texture.
 

Before

After 

Project 103; Living Room
A classic design with plenty of light. The gentleman who this was designed for wished to source his own wood furniture but all other furniture and materials were sourced by yours truly. I used a mixture of taupe and grey to keep the scheme light but also with a more masculine feel in mind, the stripes also echo my desire for a soft classic, masculine room. The views from the clients double doors out into the garden were beautiful so I replaced the blinds which obscured the view with silk curtains to frame the garden.

Before

Mood Board

After

 Project 106; Cellar
This project is still on going so I cannot show you any before/after photos but imagine a cold, dark and damp cellar............ Now being transformed into light, bright office, the builders work is complete and all that remains are the finishing touches. Mainly, a wall gallery fit for the photographer using this room. Here are a few sneak peek images and the colour scheme.

Other projects I am working on include my living room, a grand entrance and dining room for client 103! And I'll leave you with some of the mood boards I am now working on for these new projects.

Homespun Style, Selina Lake

Homespun Style

Just like fashion, interiors styles go in cycles. We’ve had minimalism; we’ve done neutrals; we’re slightly over our love affair with grey. So it’s time for something completely different! We’re ditching serious, understated schemes, in favour of colour, pattern and bags of personality.

Spotting this trend for unpretentious, colourful, crafty interiors, Selina Lake put together Homespun Style. Together with photographer Debi Treloar, Selina sourced and shot homes as far afield as Norway, Sweden, France and Denmark, as well as in the UK. Each one shares a love of colour - whether splashed abundantly across walls or used to punctuate an all-white scheme. Upcycled and repaired pieces that are bursting with character, sometimes set alongside design classics, are another feature of the homespun home. Anyone can give an old wooden chair a bright coat of paint. Experimentation is key - simply get stuck in! 

You might be surprised how easy it is to create something gorgeous and unique.

Most importantly - enjoy yourself! With an open mind, a dash of imagination and a sense of fun, you can take any home from humdrum to homespun in a flash.

Extract from Issue 3 of 91 Magazine – read more of this article & see more images at www.91magazine.co.uk

All material is copyright of 91 Magazine & their contributors.

Words by Joanna Simmons / www.joannasimmons.com

Photos by Debi Treloar / www.debitreloar.com

Homespun Style is by Selina Lake (http://selinalake.blogspot.co.uk) and is published by Ryland Peters and Small (http://www.rylandpeters.com)

Colour Psychology - Green

These last few days I have spent alot of time in my garden trying to tame the jungle and create a beautiful space to enjoy al fresco dinng with a chilled glass of white and weekend breakfasts in the sunshine, this has inspired me to write about green for this months colour psychology series.

The colour of nature, there is no doubt that green is a calming colour that is very pleasing to your senses. The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm undertones.

Green is considered the color of peace, harmony and support, it helps to relax you mentally as well as physically, soothing you and your thoughts.

I particularly love green used with grey or black. The darker colours provide depth to the scheme and the end result is a feeling of luxury and sophistication. But if you want to follow nature, stay with natural shades.

I hope you have enjoyed this months post and you were able to enjoy the great outdoors this weekend.

Laura. X

Images: Pinterest

Jubilee Inspiration

This year is a great year to be British, and we are starting off the celebrations with the Queens Diamond Jubilee this weekend.

With all the street parties and garden parties, I feel a sense of nostalgia for those 'good old days'. Days, which infact were before my time as street parties seemed to have died a sad death but none the less, I imagine the streets would be filled with friends and neighbours,  a buzz in the air, children running around your feet, something which since the Royal wedding is becoming increasingly more popular. Hoorah!

You may or may not have arranged a street party, garden party, tea party or picnic in the park with friends, family and neighbours but there is still time and for those of you that have, perhaps a little more inspiration.

Firstly, the celebrations would not be complete without bunting, inside or out, Union Jack or perhaps you prefer the vintage feel?

Tea & Cakes.......... We are British afterall. Running with the terribly British tea theme, why not use vintage tea cups and saucers with sweets and treats or flowers as a table piece?

Something to quench your thirst? Old jars recycled and filled with ice cold lemonade, doesn't it make your tastebuds tingle. It also looks fantastic!

However you celebrate this weekend, I hope the sun shines for you and you have a wonderful time.
x

Images: Dream Box Interior Design, Pinterest

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Colour Psychology - Orange

Summer has finally arrived and in celebration of this glorious day, I am going to look at the colour orange in my colour psychology series.

Orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow.

The colour psychology of orange is optimistic and uplifting, rejuvenating our spirit. Take advantage of all the positive properties of orange by introducing elements of this colour into your everyday life. Flowers, art, finishing touches.

Orange brings spontaneity and a positive outlook on life; it represents free spirits and the ability to be yourself.

With its enthusiasm for life, you will find it hard not to be inspired by the most extrovert colour!

For me, orange reminds me of my time in the Caribbean “It’s seriously easy going” or, to quote Bob Marley “Don’t worry, Be happy” I think this is a perfect way to summarise the colour orange.

Have a beautiful day.
Laura
x

Images: Pinterest

91 Magazine - Sneak Peek

When I opened my e-mails this morning I almost couldn't believe my eyes; It cannot be 'that' time again already? Surely not?.

The creative lovelies at 91 Magazine had sent me a sneaky peek of their new summer edition and I cannot believe that issue 3 is ready to be published, not that I'm complaining mind, I cannot wait to read it Friday morning.

The magazine will be filled with inspiration from a beautiful feature on 5 ways to use wildflowers, to the quirky home of a Parisian artist, to how to style your guest bedroom, and a day at one of London's newest and prettiest craft venues. After seeing a sneak peek at the Parisian artist home and styling a guest bedroom (below), I cannot wait to read the whole feature and more....

Hopefully these images will be enough to keep you going until the launch on Friday! Make sure you have a cuppa ready!

Images: 91 Magazine

Exposed Brick Interiors

The sun is shining, I'm feeling inspired and I wanted to share with you all. And, let me tell you, it feels good to be blogging again! I've been missing in action for a while now.

My inspiration today comes after looking at designs for my own home. After 5 years, the husband and I are finally looking to develop and improve our first home........ with a view to sell in a couple of years! So, you can be assured there will be plenty of posts coming up on my own home and the dilema of improving to sell without blowing a budget.

I have spent some time recently gathering images for mood boards for my home and have noticed that I am very drawn to texture and contrast.
I especially love exposed brick walls, if you follow my pinterest or facebook pages you will see brick popping up everywhere! Teamed with warm wood and leather it's a match made in heaven, I especially love brick against a white wall and combined with metal, It brings so much warmth into a room.

Brick never fails to impress whether being showcased in a masculine environment, industrial or a more feminine room teamed with soft shapes and delicate fabrics, which is my personal favourite, again, it is all about those layers of texture.

Images: Pinterest

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• Industrial Design
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